28 June 2020: St Albans to Hitchin

Jon arrived at the War Memorial breathless with excitement. He had just come over the longabout where there were roadworks in evidence; was this the start of the installation of the long-awaited traffic lights to assist all road users heading north from Colney Heath? (Alas, we later subsequently discovered that these were drainage works!) Five of us set off along the Harpenden Road, scorning the cycle-path alongside as being too bumpy and too narrow. Through the edge of Southdown and down Leasey Bridge Lane, we ascended to  Blackmore End and met (by arrangement) Steve and Jackie coming up from Kimpton. Although we were now over the critical mass, we continued almost together with Steve trailing off the back, through Bendish, passing another group of seven cyclists manifestly breaching lockdown rules. After giving them a severe ticking off we took the route through  Ley Green where we spotted the West Herts Section of  Cycling UK heading towards us. We carried on downhill via Charlton, taking the quiet route into Hitchin Market Square. Here we saw a group of 25 vintage-scooters accompanied by riders of commensurate age. We had earlier seen them in a convoy near Ley Green.

Scooters in Market Place

After unsuccessfully attempting to open the door of the public toilets north of the marketplace, we went to the ones in the open-air market place where we were impressed the facilities were not only open, but were being cleaned after every person used them. Well done Hitchin! 

We all took our picnic lunches in the grounds of St Mary's church among the gravestones

St Mary's churchyard

Ronny left early to make his own way back to St Albans. This turned out to be a wise decision as the rest of us got caught in a downpour near Old Knebworth just a few minutes after Steve and Jackie peeled off. I think they would have made it home in the dry. An enjoyable day out in mainly dry weather - if a bit windy.

Carol

21 Jun 2020: St Albans to Chesham

The longest day saw some rain forecast for the first part of the morning so there were only three of us at the start, Steve, Ronny and me. I'd planned a wiggly route to avoid getting to Chesham too early for our picnic lunch. We took a meandering route via Rucklers Lane then along the rarely used Middle Lane to Bovingdon Green, before using the Whelpley Hill loop where we saw a bright-blue flax field to which my photo does not do justice.

Flax field near Whelpley Hill

After passing Peter Southworth of West Herts Cycling UK club, we then headed through Ashley Green out almost to Hawridge, and then enjoyed the long descent to Chesham. After a toilet stop we picnicked in the park just as the sun disappeared and the wind got up. In fact we didn't have any rain all day and enjoyed a tail wind on the way home.

Green Dragon is home!

Climbing up the hill from Latimer to Flaunden we were delighted to be greeted by the familiar Green Dragon figure-head after an absence of many months. However it was evident the refurbishment  of the pub was not yet quite complete.

Shortly after passing through Belsize, Steve discovered that he could get only two gears as his rear changer would not move. However, by manually setting the chain onto the middle sprocket, he managed to get home to St Albans. We took the least hilly route back so abandoned the planned route. The problem was subsequently found be not a broken gear cable or derailleur spring but excessive friction in the cable housing inside the frame & solved with some oil.

We completed about 42 miles and were home shortly after 3.30.

Carol

14 Jun 2020: St Albans to Dunstable

Today was the first time since March that Steve and I rode (suitably distanced) with other people. I'd planned a route of just over 20 miles to the park in Dunstable using back lanes, then the new cycle path from Caddington into Dunstable, the whole of which was off road on tarmac. Sue, Richard and Jon joined us in St Albans and we set off through Sandridge and across Nomansland Common to Southdown, then up to Kinsbourne Green. The sun shone and it was a glorious day to be outside. Others agreed, as we saw the most model-aeroplane fliers I've ever seen on their little airfield up behind Markyate. We passed Harpers at Pepperstock who were doing a roaring trade at their outside tables, before passing through Slip End and seeing the empty long-term car park for Luton airport. In the park we hastily ate our sandwiches in the shade of the bandstand before trying to find an open public lavatory. No luck, so we all held on until after a circuit of Totternhoe and Eaton Bray we found a suitable hedge, just before crossing the main road between Dunstable and Tring to start the ascent to Dagnall and Studham.

Bottom of Bison Hill

Jon's electric-bike battery held up well and he showed off its power-assist by shooting past me on the hill up to Studham. 

Near Studham

We carried on along Gaddesden Row then cut back into the edge of Hemel Hempstead and crossed the main road on Breakspear Way where we  were disappointed to see the the recent road works had only inserted two dropped kerbs and there was no more sign of the proposed push-button crossing to help pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road. After Westwick Row, Richard carried on along the main road home while Steve and I went to Potters Crouch where we said goodbye to Jon and Sue. We did about 52 miles  and Jon let me know later he'd done over 70 miles on his round trip. The power of electricity, and in Sue's case - legs! Next week I'll make sure I plan a route where I know there will be an open public-toilet. We found one in Chesham and another in Wendover this week. Both were very clean and respectable. 

Great to ride with other people again and have a chat,

Carol